Alanna Avalone – Private Lender

2026, Issue No. 1

I read an article this week that stayed with me. It used a simple metaphor that feels especially relevant right now. Before Coach K started high school, his mother told him to make sure he got on the right bus. She wasn’t talking about transportation. She was talking about the people, environments, and decisions that shape your future.

That idea applies perfectly to investing in 2026.

Markets rarely change in one dramatic moment. They move slowly, quietly, and then all at once. Information now travels faster than ever. Expectations are priced in quickly, and even small disappointments are punished just as fast. In that kind of environment, chasing every opportunity becomes dangerous.

2026 does not feel like a year for excess.
It feels like a year for discipline.

One line from the article stood out to me. Bulls and bears make money. Pigs get slaughtered. It’s harsh, but it’s useful. Protecting gains has become just as important as generating them. After strong rallies, the downside can be severe. Patience matters more than bravado.

Macro snapshot for 2026

Going into 2026, interest rates remain elevated compared to the last decade, even with expected cuts. The Federal Reserve is closer to neutral than restrictive, but borrowing is still not cheap. Capital has a real cost again. Easy money is no longer masking bad decisions.

Inflation has cooled from its peak but remains sticky. That means any rate cuts are likely to be measured rather than aggressive. Investors expecting a fast return to zero-rate conditions may be disappointed. This environment rewards planning, structure, and patience more than leverage for leverage’s sake.

At the same time, bank credit remains tight. Lending standards are inconsistent, approval timelines are slow, and underwriting is conservative. This is exactly why private credit continues to grow. When traditional channels hesitate, alternative capital steps in. But this also raises the bar for discipline, because not all credit growth is healthy credit growth.

This shows up clearly in private credit today. The space is growing fast, and capital is flowing in from everywhere. That creates opportunity, but it also creates risk. When too much money chases returns, deal quality can suffer. Structure gets sloppy. Discipline slips. That is how problems start.

Not all private credit is the same.
Not all returns are worth the risk behind them.

The same applies across investing. 2026 feels like a year where choosing the right bus matters more than trying to catch every bus. Where strategy beats speed. Where structure beats hype. Where boring, well thought out decisions outperform flashy ones.

Diversification matters again. Not the buzzword version, but real diversification across strategies, timelines, and risk profiles. Stock selection matters again. Underwriting matters again. Knowing why you own something matters again.

The goal this year is not to be everywhere.
It is to be intentional.

As investors, lenders, and capital allocators, the question is not what is moving the fastest. It is what is built to last. What has structure. What has clarity. What still works when the market gets uncomfortable.

2026 is about getting on the right bus early and staying on it calmly, even when others are jumping around.

Alanna Avalone – Private Lender

Call/ Text/ WhatsApp: +1 (305) 537-6443 

This newsletter is my weekly take on lending, markets, and mindset, from someone who still loves helping people get deals done.

Thanks for reading

---

Need help packaging a file? My team underwrites with you.

We are Direct Lender for Residential Investor Projects.
We do NOT offer loans for homesteads (primary residences), or rural.

For projects that don’t align perfectly with our requirements, we collaborate with other lenders to explore financing alternatives.

— Typically booked out 2-3 days. Secure your spot now.